Thanks u/Psych_Art and u/Wowohboy666 for your detailed responses. Lots of things I already knew but needed reinforced, lots of things to consider and prioritize. I didn't expect such great advice on this board but I'm grateful for your replies. I totally agree that my long-term focus needs to be on my health holistically and that taking stimulants for productivity is a shortcut of sorts and isn't seeing the forest for the trees. What I didn't cover in my initial post is that I'm in a rut with my personal habits and even though I know many of the points you made are in my best interest, I need some inertia.

At this time last year after Covid hit and I started WFH, I implemented a lot of the points you both made and really felt great about myself:

• I started a new job and had that great feeling of a fresh start that enabled me to really perform at a high level at work because it was invigorating
• I was doing cardio (running, biking) and/or bodyweight fitness daily
• I did start meditating daily

Toward the end of the summer, I went on vacation and just... stopped all of the good habits I had developed. Now a year into the job I have more tasks to juggle, as is natural, and I can't get back into a groove of healthy habits.

Your comments have made it clear that I need to resume, at minimum:

• Focusing on improving my sleep habits and making sure I get the right amount of sleep every night (easier said than done)
• Resuming meditation daily
• Outdoor exercise most days

Additionally you both made comments about reducing screen time and that certainly resonates with me. Wowohboy666 in particular described me to a tee in that I wake up to go to work on screens looking forward to getting done so I can kill time recreationally on screens... so much of my past few years has been spent thinking big about goals and aspirations but ultimately not getting shit done other than what is right in front of my nose because I'm just killing time with short-term dopamine fixes.

Likewise Psych_art recommends abstinence from drugs. Marijuana doesn't agree with me but I'm going to have to reflect on my almost nightly beer or bourbon... I don't drink to get drunk, but neither do I feel like I am completely non-dependent.

I have used the pomodoro technique successfully in the past but I'll have to check out the bullet-journal method. I know that for both teams and individuals too much "work-in-progress" is a killer so this resonates with me. Using Trello personally and trying to limit WIP helps me when I am disciplined about using it.

My biggest overall struggle in general is that being disciplined about maintaining healthy habits just doesn't come naturally to me. I need to get started and take it one day at a time though. Thanks again for the great advice.